Original Title: Desu Nōto | デスノート
Release: 2006
Country: Japan
Director: Shusuke Kaneko
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara / Ken’ichi Matsuyama
Running Time: 141 Min.
Written by M. Douglas
Published: 03/20/07
After the excellent first installment of the Death Note film series ending on somewhat of a cliffhanger, I was eagerly anticipating what the second and final film would offer. Doubting the effectiveness of a sequel is quite ordinary in today’s world—taking into consideration that a majority of sequels due in fact fail to live up to their predecessor(s), just right out ignore certain aspects that made the previous film work so well, or take a entirely new, albeit unnecessary, plot direction. Worries aside, I proceeded to watch the film…and it feels good to say that Death Note: The Last Name is a spectacular sequel that brings the Death Note film series to a captivating and exciting conclusion.
Picking up almost immediately after the first film, Death Note: The Last Name continues the plight of Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and the eccentric “L” (Ken’ichi Matsuyama) in their cooperative effort to rid the world of the deceptive mass-murderer only known by the name “Kira”. But due to L’s highly attuned mindset, he suspects that Light is in fact the cunning “Kira”, or at least working with the real one. The prospective and shrewd nature of both Light and L is the centerpiece of the Death Note series, and it is proven even more so in this film than the previous installment. The intellectual battle between these two characters is what makes Death Note: The Last Name so riveting; the relentless exchanges to see who can outwit who first is what provides the framework for some electrifying scenes within the film. Tatsuya Fujiwara’s portrayal of Light Yagami is spot on—I really can’t picture any other actor being able to showcase Light’s deadpan stare and evasive attitude as well Fujiwara does. As for Ken’ichi Matsuyama as “L”…all I have to say is “wow”. He becomes totally absorbed in the role of “L” and makes the part his own—he perfects the mannerisms of his manga counterpart so well, you can tell he studied the character thoroughly. Sadly, the rest of the acting is rather sub-par compared to the two leads, but it’s tolerable.
With the Death Note film series being one of the most intelligent manga-to-film adaptations in recent memory, it’s always been bound to turn most casual viewers away. With Death Note: The Last Name, the sheer number of double-crosses, betrayals, and dirty tactics used escalate so high later on in the film, it will most definitely become mind-boggling to most casual viewers. Perhaps this is the problem with condensing an entire manga series into a 2-hour film, but after some careful afterthought, one can eventually piece the puzzle together.
My overall thoughts on Death Note: The Last Name is that it’s a great addition to long line of film adaptations of manga series—and perhaps the best yet. If you’re a fan of the manga series, what are you doing? Go see it now! If you’re not, this film is still a time for an enjoyable romp through the provocative and suspenseful world of Death Note.
